Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 12:48:36 -0500
Reply-To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Removing the axle shafts (was: Towing a Vanagon)
In-Reply-To: <2B99958A-B560-4DCE-92AB-5C5CBA380EB9@kippert.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Uhaul will require you to tell them the tow vehicle and the towing vehicle.
If you were confident in the ability for your master dolly to tow the bus
with the ford expedition, why not the Uhaul rig? It has built in brakes as
well which are nice.
When i went to rent a tow dolly from uhaul i told them the westy was a GL
and they claimed it to be 4000lbs or something. Then i said "just out of
curiousity, what does the camper weight" and they said "4100lbs". I am quite
sure theres more than a hundred pound difference, but thats what they
claimed....
They approved our 1500 suburban to tow a full camper, so i think your
expedition should be fine. You're saving yourself an awful lot of agrivation
getting the uhaul trailer.
-Craig
'85GL turned WESTY
On Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 12:31 PM, Mark A Kippert <vanagon@kippert.com> wrote:
> The thought scares me too. The van I'm picking up is two hours away.
> Looks like I'd need to haul quite a few tools, jack, stands and
> additional stuff for safe support. Then there is hoping it will come
> apart without any trouble.
>
> All to haul the van with my Master Tow dolly (which I own and can
> safely pull the van). Since the van's an automatic I have to pull the
> shafts. Wish I could put the rear on the dolly but that, I understand,
> could be problematic.
>
> I'm guessing the smart, EASY, thing to do is rent a car hauler from U-
> Haul for $50. My concern is the trailer weighs 2000lbs according to U-
> Haul and the van is near 4000lbs. My Ford Expedition has a Max tow
> capacity (by the book) of 5900lbs.
>
> Does anyone know how much a stock 1987 2WD GL weighs?
>
> -Mark K
>
> Frankly the smart
>
> On Jan 3, 2009, at 11:47 AM, John C... wrote:
>
> Mark,
>> Jack Stands in a frozen snowy field
>> is causing the hair on the back or my neck to stand on end !!! (none
>> on top to stand :o)
>> Double Jack Stand It, I say,
>> Or take the time to Also Block it up
>> with Wood Blocking !!!
>> Be Safe!
>> JC...
>>
>> -------------- Original message --------------
>> From: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
>>
>> No, there is definitely room to get at the bolts from the other side
>>> of the swing arm (i.e with removing the axle). You'll want to put
>>> your
>>> vehicle up on jack stands and remove the wheel to do this. You'll
>>> need
>>> to rotate things too as you remove the bolts (you usually can get
>>> to 2
>>> at a time without too much difficulty.)
>>>
>>> I find it preferable to take the inner bolts off the transmission
>>> first, then remove the bolts off the axle end. I use a long pry bar
>>> in
>>> between the wheel studs to prevent rotation of the shaft while
>>> loosening the bolts.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jan 3, 2009, at 1:11 AM, Mark A Kippert wrote:
>>>
>>> In looking at the diagram on page 42.2 the axle shaft passes thru
>>>> the
>>>> boxy portion of the trailing arm. This being the case it doesn't
>>>> look
>>>> like you can get access to that end of the axle without pulling the
>>>> wheel bearing housing. Is this true (I have not had time to crawl
>>>> under my van to see)?
>>>>
>>>> I'll be laying in a field, under the van, on a cold winter day to do
>>>> this so the less time I spend laying under there the better.
>>>>
>>>
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